Lot 457
Saxony. Johann Georg II (1656-1680). Silver Klippe Taler, 1662. On the occasion of the marriage of his daughter, Ermuthe Sophie to Christian Ernst of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. Arms with wreath from clouds over pillars and monument. Legend around, arms in four corners. Rev. Arms in four corners, nine-line inscription within circle (Dav 7631; KM 500; Schnee 914). In PCGS holder graded AU 55, evenly toned. Value $1,000 - UP
Klippe coins were originally struck under adverse conditions, particularly during sieges, when it was difficult to obtain traditional circular flans, but square or diamond-shaped pieces could be easily cut from metal sheets - sometimes even silver plate. However, by the seventeenth century, the klippe form had become popular for distinguishing commemorative issues from regular circulating coins. The present thaler of Johann Georg II, the Elector of Saxony, is just such a commemorative issue. It was struck to commemorate the marriage of his daughter Erdmuthe Sophie to her cousin Christian Ernst, the Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, on October 29, 1662. The reverse type serves to represents the surrounding motto, MEDIANTE DEO ET AMORE EXISTENT PACE ET CONCORDIA ("Let there be peace and concord through the mediation of God and love"). Two pillars representing peace (topped by two doves) on the right and concord on the left are bound by a chain composed of hearts (representing love) to a central obelisk crowned from the heavens below the Hebrew name of God. Whereas similar celestial crowning scenes normally involve a single manus Dei (hand of God), here the crown is lowered by two hands at the ends of arms wearing the turned-back sleeves of contemporary fashion. This it is somewhat unclear who (singular or plural?) is really crowning the monument. The importance of peace, love, and concord in a marriage notwithstanding, the type also advertises the political nature of the marriage through the prominent display of the arms of the Electorate of Saxony and the Margraviate of Brandenburg at the base and top of the obelisk.
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| Realized $1,560 |
